Muhammad Is Not Foretold In Buddhist Scriptures

A Rebuttal to Dr.Zakir Naik   Part II

S. Prasadh  
2006/01/25 

Devoted Servitors of the Buddhas:  

Dr.Zakir Naik proceeds to says:

According to Sacred Books of the East volume 11 pg. 97 Maha-Parinibbana Sutta Chapter 5 verse 36:

"Then the Blessed one addressed the brethren, and said, ‘Whosoever, brethren have been Arahat-Buddhas through the long ages of the past, they were servitors just as devoted to those Blessed ones as Ananda has been to me. And whosoever brethren shall be the Arahat-Buddhas of the future, there shall be servitors as devoted to those Blessed ones as Ananda has been to me’."

The Servitor of Buddha was Ananda. Muhammad (pbuh) also had a servitor by the name Anas (r.a.) who was the son of Malik. Anas (r.a...) was presented to the Prophet by his parents. Anas (r.a...) relates: "My mother said to him, 'Oh Messenger of God, here is your little servant'." Further Anas relates, "I served him from the time I was 8 years old and the Prophet called me his son and his little beloved". Anas (r.a...) stayed by the Prophet in peace and in war, in safety as well as in danger till the end of his life. Anas (r.a.), even though he was only 11 years old stayed beside the Prophet during the battle of Uhud where the Prophet’s life was in great danger. Even during the battle of Honain when the Prophet was surrounded by the enemies who were archers, Anas (r.a...) who was only 16 years old stood by the Prophet.

Anas (R) can surely be compared with Ananda who stood by Gautam Buddha when the mad elephant approached him.  

This is of no relevance to prove that Maitreya and Muhammad are same. Infact Even Imam Husain had this kind of men to die for him in karbalah battle. Zakir Naik tends to commit a logical fallacy called Post hoc ergo propter hoc. Just because Buddha had a noble companion and after him Muhammad had a companion, it doesn’t mean Muhammad is maitreya. It is stupid. Buddha never said that MAITREYA would be having a companion. In the above lines of Buddha, he means to say that the members of the community of highly-realised Buddhists or Buddha would have faithful monks and servitors serving the purpose to hold the eight fold path. It in no way concludes logically that Muhammad is MAITREYA. Even Imam Husain had servitors. But did the servitors preach BUDDHISM? No! It is height of absurd conclusiveness by Dr.Zakir Naik.  

Dr. Zakir Naik then writes :  

Six Criteria for Identifying Buddha:  

According to the Gospel of Buddha by Carus pg. 214:  

"The Blessed one said, ‘There are two occasions on which a Tathagata’s appearance becomes clear and exceedingly bright. In the night Ananda, in which a Tathagata attains to the supreme and perfect insight, and in the night in which he passes finally away in that ultra passing which leaves nothing whatever of his earthly existence to remain.’ "  

According to Gautam Buddha, following are the six criteria for identifying a Buddha. 

i) A Buddha attains supreme and perfect insight at night-time.  

ii) On the occasion of his complete enlightenment he looks exceedingly bright  

iii) A Buddha dies a natural death.  

iv) He dies at night-time.  

v)  He looks exceedingly bright before his death.  

vi) After his death a Buddha ceases to exist on earth. 

  i)  Muhammad (pbuh) attained supreme insight and Prophethood at night-time.  

According to Surah Dukhan:  

"By the books that makes thing clear – We sent it down during a blessed night."

[Al-Qur'an 44:2-3]  

According to Surah Al-Qadar:  

"We have indeed revealed this (message) in the night of power."

[Al-Qur'an 97:1] 

  As already discussed, the insight that Buddha refers to is self-realisation and escape from Samhara cycle. It is not knowing the unity of GOD. Infact what Muhammad got was not an insight but an illusion and vision, where it seemed to be an angel Gabriel talking something to him. It has nothing to do with self-realisation.  

ii) Muhammad (pbuh) instantly felt his understanding illumined with celestial light.  

Muhammad never understood it first. Read this hadith :  

Bukhari Volume 1, Book 1, Number 3:

The Prophet added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, 'I do not know how to read (or what shall I read)?' Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, 'Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists) has created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous." (96.1, 96.2, 96.3) Then Allah's Apostle returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadija bint Khuwailid and said, "Cover me! Cover me!" They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, "I fear that something may happen to me." 

It shows Muhammad was actually afraid of the revelation being given via the angel. Where did he feel illumined? At a certain stage when revelation stopped he even wanted to commit suicide many a times by dropping himself from the hill. Is this how a self-realised Dhamma adopting person behave? Infact Muhammad believed in superstitions such as angels and Jinns whereas Buddha never did.  

iii) Muhammad (pbuh) died a natural death.  

Does that mean anyone who dies a natural death is MAITREYA? Infact there is a disagreement to this natural death of Muhammad. Immediately following the conquest of Khaibar, a Jewish woman prepared a dinner for Muhammad and some of his men.  Unknown to the Muslims was that she had put a poison into the lamb (some say goat) that was served at dinner.  Muhammad ate some of the poisoned lamb and died as a result three years later.

<  back    next  >